Veronica longifolia ‘Alba’ seeds – (Speedwell)

Description

Picture thanks to www.hazzardsgreenhouse.com

Veronica longifolia, ‘Alba’  forms a bushy, upright plant  of shiny  green leaves . The vigorous vertical stems hold  tall, slender white spires which have with masses of densely grouped, small buds, the flowers open, one after the other,  from the base  to form a long-lasting spire.
Veronica longifolia prefers a position in sun or part shade in moist well-drained soil, however it will tolerate drier soils, so long as it is mulched.  It flowers in midsummer and lasts for several months into autumn. It adds a gentle columnar,  architectural height to the border and is an excellent contrast to more traditional flower shapes when grown  at the front of the border. It is  eye-catching when planted in drifts.
It is attractive to  bees,  and butterflies and  makes a good cut flower.

Sowing advice

Sow indoors in spring or autumn. Surface sow onto moist seed compost. Do not cover seeds, simply press into the soil. Place in a propagator or seal in a polythene bag to maintain humidity. Ideal temp. 13-16°C. Keep moist by watering from the bottom of the tray only. Germination takes 4-6 weeks approx. After germination admit air and grow on in cooler conditions. Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle to 8cm pots and grow on. Acclimatise and plant out after danger of frost has passed. Autumn sowings should be planted out the following spring.